Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88580 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 443(@200wpm)___ 354(@250wpm)___ 295(@300wpm)
“Good morning, sister-in-law,” Con says, flopping down at the table. My floor manager gives him a look, but Con ignores it. “How are we on this lovely day?”
“I’m doing good.” I glance at the other men. The Viking lingers for a moment before sitting at my table. The third man stays standing, arms crossed. “Are you gentlemen playing?”
“Sure,” Con says and tosses a few hundred dollars down on the table. “Give that to me in fifties, please.”
“Same,” the other man says, tossing down an equally fat stack.
The third remains standing. “Seems silly to play at my own casino.”
“Cheaper this way,” Con says. “Even when we lose, we’re at least winning a little bit.”
I count the money, dole out their chips, and ignore how awkward this feels as I deal the cards. Con doesn’t even look at them. “This is Erick,” he says, gesturing at the Viking. “My other brother. And the surly one’s Jayson.”
“I’m not surly. Just seems like a bad idea, gambling in your own casino, that’s all.”
I flip over my card and they both lose. Both shove more chips out. “My brothers here wanted to meet you,” Con says. “Except your husband’s trying to keep you far away from us.”
“Don’t know why,” Jayson says. “We’re a delight.”
“No, you’re not,” Erick grunts.
“What my very joyous brother here means is Adler thinks we’re going to ruin things for him somehow.” Con arches his eyebrows at me. “I think that’s not possible, but who knows.”
“Uh,” I say, feeling lost, and deal the cards. Con gets a thirteen. Erick gets blackjack. “Well, it’s good to meet you both. Your mother talked a lot about you.” Which is a total lie, I only spoke with her that one time, but still.
“Doubt that,” Jayson says. “Mom’s never had a nice thing to say about us.”
“She said Mom talked, not that she said good things,” Con points out, nudging Erick. “You’re her favorite. Think Mom told Casey here to run away screaming?”
“Probably,” Erick grunts. Not much of a talker, I guess.
Jayson leans forward over Con, ignoring his protest. “We’re not here to talk about our mother,” he says, staring into my eyes. My hands hover over the deck, about to deal more cards. I feel frozen by that stare like there’s something serious he’s trying to communicate without speaking. A long moment passes where nobody speaks, including Con, which is a big surprise.
But at length, I manage to ask, “Then what did you want to talk to me about?”
“Adler,” Erick grunts.
“These two are here to warn you,” Con says, rolling his eyes. “Seriously, I told them already, you know Adler’s an absolute psychopath and you don’t seem to care. I don’t get what they possibly think is going to change.”
Jayson nudges Con. “Stop it. Let me talk.”
And Con just shrugs, gestures for another card, which makes him bust. He doesn’t seem to mind when I win again and sweep the chips away. Both him and Erick both make another bet.
“I’m aware that Adler’s… imperfect.” I glance between Erick and Jayson. “I know you two might have some… questions about my motives. He mentioned that to me last night. And I just wanted to say that I have no interest in your, uh, organization. I love the Sunrise, I love dealing cards, I love being out here feeling useful for a little while, and that’s pretty much it. There’s nothing else happening.”
Jayson tilts his head like he’s considering that as I deal another hand. Erick gets blackjack again. Con gets a sixteen, which he immediately gestures for another card.
“Here’s the thing about that,” Jayson says once Con busts and loses again. “It’s not that we’re worried for our other business. Or to be more specific, that’s not the main concern. I’m sure you have the broad strokes of what our family is and what it does, and that’s fine. Adler’s smart enough to keep you away from the things you shouldn’t know about. What concerns me is Adler.”
I pause, not sure how to react. “What do you mean?”
“Our brother is not what he seems,” Erick says, the most he’s spoken since sitting down.
My hands are shaking as I deal the cards. Erick gets blackjack again. Con gets a six. “He told me a little about it last night.” My voice is soft. I feel like I’m disassociating—like my mind’s floating on the ceiling while my hands do the work of dealing. Con manages to win a hand.
“What did he say?” Jayson asks.
I give him the rough outline: my accident, Adler’s involvement, the subsequent oversight. “He’s been helping me for years.”
“Sounds that way,” Erick says, glaring down at the cards.
“But why is he helping you?” Jayson asks. “Yes, I understand, he was there during your accident and maybe that created some sort of bond between you two, but a lot was happening in those days. I’ve always wondered why he gave a damn about some random girl he found bleeding in the street.”